provost



2 SheetsSheet 1 (No Model!) P. PROVOST.

HANGER FOR HARNESS FOR HORSES.

Patented May 26, 1896.

AN DREW HGNAHAM. PHOTOMYHO. WASHIN GTON D1:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P PROVOST. HANGER FOR HARNESS FOR HORSES.

N0. 560,753. Patented May 26, 1 896.

Zia/67%? 0. V

JNii E STATES m PETER PROVOST, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

HANGER FOR HARNESS FOR HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,753, dated May 26, 1896.

Application filed February 14, 1895. Serial No. 538,429. (No model.)

To all whom, it ntay concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER PBOVOST, a sub ject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Montreal, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hangers for Harness for Horses, of which the followingis so full, clear, and exact a description as will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows the hanger in action and shows the position it takes when it is unlocked. Fig. 2 is a detail of the locking device for the hanger. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the hanger, showing the position which it takes after it has been unlocked and the harness has been dropped. Fig. at is a perspec tive view of my improved hanger, showing the harness suspended by the center of the hip-strap at the rear and the loop in the side strap. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the clamphook and releasing device.

The object of this invention is to dispense with the many loose pieces found in the hangers at present used in firecngine houses, police-stations where patrotwagons are used, ambulances, (he. i

Another object of my invention is to provide a hanger by the use of which a harness may be dropped in the shortest possible time and with the least expense of physical and mechanical force.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hanger by the use of which the harness may be suspended and positivelylocked in position in the shortest possible time with the greatest degree of certainty as to the devices, which hold the harness in an elevated and open position.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates an arm, at the forward end of which is provided an open ring or hook at. Near the rear end is a pivotal connection B, which pivotally supports a forked arm 0, having two projecting arms D D, each of which is provided at its outer rear end with open rings or hooks cl (1. Between the open end of the fork and its pivotal connection is located a slotted catch E, which is provided with an elongated post H, provided at its outer free end with an open ring or hook e and which is pivoted to the arm 0 a slight distance back of the pivotal point B. Between the pivotal point B and the rear end of the arm A, Iprovide a closed ring or hook F, which is adapted to receive a cord'G, to the opposite end of which is secured a counterbalancing-weight, which is slightly heavier than the weight of theharn ess and hanger to cause the weight to hold the harness in an elevated position when it is spread and fastened up with the hanger.

The harness may be pulled down and up into position on the horse at any time as soon as the horse is brought under the harness, and the driving-reins H are attached to the catch E in such a manner that when the driver pulls the rein back the slotted catch slips off of the rear end of the arm A,loosening the lock and allowing the arms A and C to come together into the position shown in Fig. 3, and the counterbalancing-weight at the outer end of the cord will elevate and hold in suspended position the hanger when it is not in use.

In a two-horse apparatus the hooks on the outside for holding up the harness should be secured to arm D slightly longer than the inside arm, in order to give the animal plenty of room to get under the harness before it is pulled down and secured to him.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the horses may be quickly run under the harness and the harness pulled down and secured without in any way interfering with the support which holds up the hanger and harness.

There will be no tangling of the harness or any part of it dropped, causing delay and annoyance when it is desired to get the horses harnessed and get them out in cases of e1nergency in the shortest possible time.

After the horses have left the building the hanger will be suspended above the place where they left entirely out of the way, and, in fact, it will fly up instantly, leaving the way clear for the fire-engine, ambulance, or patrol-wagon, &c. to pass by without coming into contact with any part of the apparatus which is used to suspend the harness.

It is obvious that other mechanical equivalents may be used to take the place of the locking device without departing from the spirit of my invention, which consists mainly in the provision of rigid arms or hangers adapted to spread and hold the harness in place, in combination with a novel locking and releasing device, as has been heretofore explained, and as Will be particularlypointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

What I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, and what I therefore claim, is

1. In a hanger of the character described, the combination of an arm provided with a ring or hook for a cord; in combination with a second forked arm, pivotally secured to the first arm, and a locking device, consisting of a slotted hook pivotally secured to the forked arm provided with an elongated post II and an open ring 6 said slotted hook adapted to embrace the joined ends of the arms, for securing the two together rigidly, in an extended position, substantially as described.

2. In a hanger of the character described, a double-ended forked arm provided with two projecting portions one of which is longer than the other; in combination with a second arm pivotally secured to the double-ended arm and means for securing the two together in an extended position, consisting of a pivoted locking-catch having an open rein-hook for engagement with the driving-rein, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses. 

